The 40th annual Jonesborough Storytelling Festival has come and gone. This is the first time in three years that I have not attended, due to both finances and family commitments.
Many of you are aware of the controversy that has surrounded the festival and the National Storytelling Network. NSN is no longer a "partner" in the festival, and this is sad. Many of our distinguished tellers and colleagues have chosen not to attend, due to the friction and politics. I would have attended if I could have.
Each time I was there, for the last three years, I have received a great education. I studied 30 plus tellers to see how they made it look so easy. I soaked up the culture of the historic town that helped launch the resurgence in storytelling. I met new friends and colleagues, and I told at the Swapping Ground.
The fact that I couldn't attend this year has given me pause. I am thinking not just about the tellers I have seen and learned from, I am thinking more about who I am as a storyteller. How will I spend my time in the upcoming months? Where will my storytelling dollars go? How will I maximize my potential as a storyteller, coach and consultant? What roads and paths are beyond Jonesborough, and where do they lead? The furue awaits. . .for all of us.
DIxie Waljasper and Joan Misek were there. They took lots of pictures and posted on Facebook. Let's hope they come back with lots of stories of their experience.
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
